Back in 2010 I decided to post pictures of dishes I cooked and wine we drunk over meals on Facebook. The album is named

things I have fun with and like to eat and like to drink

I always had and have very good feedback.  But one of these days at the gym of the building we live Gulsena…made my day :). She tells me she’d seen my Facebook pictures and

they are mouthwatering and look delicious and I would love to try them!

I was over the moon!!! It didn’t take long to set up a date so Gulsena and Agnis, her husband, would join us for dinner!

I went for a menu that didn’t require last minute cooking so we could spend most of our time with our guests.

To start with and inspired in a starter we had in a Restaurant in summer 2010 in Rome I brought out 1 ingredient from the fridge and 3 from the cupboard:  ricotta, oatmeal biscuits, fig relish and honey. These 4 ingredients make up an excellent appetiser by spreading the fig relish on top of the oatmeal biscuit and then the ricotta cheese followed by a tiny bit of honey. I ♥ eating this, specially during the winter…the fig relish has a hint of cinnamon giving it a certain warmth… Trust me (!), the combination of these fours ingredients is PERFECT! I do actually need to find a name for it!!!!! Anyone wants to help???

For main course I served  a Ricotta Meatloaf prepared and cooked before Gulsena and Agnis arrived.

Ricotta Meatloaf

This recipe is great because not only is very good and tasty but also healthy and can be cooked a while before eating or the previous night. Additionally can be served both ways: warm or cold!

We opened a bottle of french red wine given to Oreste by Gulsena some days before our meal. The wine paired the food very well: smooth with some fruity notes that blended with the ricotta meatloaf flavours without obscuring them.

Mas Olivier - Faugères 2007

The highlight of our evening was the dessert: TIRAMISÙ

Joana's Tiramisù

My Tiramisù is indeed very good

and Gulsena loved it soooooo much that we got together some days after to make one together so she could learn it my way! Needless to say I was extremely proud 🙂

Our Friday night chez M&M’s was memorable and the first of many to come!!!

Thank you Gulsena! Thank you Agnis!

My little brother turned 30 (yes I am older than him!!!) in the beginning of 2012.

To celebrate his 20+10th birthday he came over to London with his girlfriend for a long weekend.

We did go out on the day, but the night before myself and Oreste had our first dinner party in 2012…

and declared the 2012 dinner party season Chez M&M household officially opened!

I decided to introduce them to some Italian flavours drizzled by a taste of Portugal:

We started with a platter of cold meat: Prosciutto di Parma and Milano Salami accompanied by spelt bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Followed by Risotto Milanese.

Risotto Milanese

I love to eat and to make this recipe. It’s easy, quick and with just a few ingredients you’ll have a happy and pleasing meal! The saffron gives it a fantastic yellow colour, that will make your eyes brighten up and an intense, yet just right, fulfilling  flavour! In Italy is often served with a piece of meat, usually cotoletta or osso buco. Personally I prefer it by itself. Simple is better!

The wine… I knew I wanted to serve the Risotto Milanese with a good Portuguese red wine. But which one? My bottleneck was what I had available at our local supermarket: a good handful from different regions. So I decided to go for a

powerfully fruity, well structured red wine with fine tannins and lasting finish.

Quinta da Rosa

Something sweet was on demand to finish our meal. Because I haven’t made any dessert and to carry on with the Italian theme I brought out from the cupboard some cantucci and Vin Santo. Vin Santo is an Italian dessert wine typical from Tuscany and is traditionally paired with cantucci – crunchy almond biscuits – also typical from Tuscany: just dunk the biscuit in the wine – Delicious!

Our dinner was followed by healthy chat, laughter and ‘tears of joy’ – we had some catch up to do – at the table, pela noite dentro!!!

A special thanks to you little brother and to the special woman that makes you happy!